Richard A Baxter

Richard Arnold Baxter was born September 11, 1934, at Hereford, Texas to Louis Baxter and Imogene Short Baxter. Richard passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2019, at Southeast Colorado Hospital in Springfield, CO at the age of 85.

Dick, as he was known to the family, was raised on a farm north of Friona, Texas until in 5 ^th grade, when the family moved to Lamar, Colorado. Later Dick’s dad bought a ranch at Chivington, Colorado where Dick went to school until his Junior year. A year later he graduated in Eads, Colorado where he had played basketball and football as a running back. During this time, he met a California transplant, Dona Reiswig. They courted and after Dona’s graduation, they married June 5, 1955, at the Methodist Church in Eads. Starting life together, Dick gave Dona many lessons on ranch life.

Dick joined the Air National Guard in the spring of 1956. He worked for a seismograph company until they moved to Bovina, Texas to start irrigation farming and run cattle. It was in Texas that Dick began his lifelong passion for fishing. Fishing trips to Ute, Logan, and Conches lakes. Years later he would fish at Two Buttes, many mountain lakes, and streams, as well as trips to Mexico with dear fishing friends.

1957 would bring Dick’s firstborn, Marla and Christine in 1961. The family moved to Spearman, Texas in 1965 to continue farming. Living there long enough to have the last of 3 daughters, Andrea, in 1967. The last move was to Springfield, Colorado in 1969.

Dick started farming with brother Dwayne, forming Baxter Brothers in Baca County in 1969. They would farm for many years and finally sold and closed that chapter of life. Hanging up the plow, Dick went to work for All Seasons Fertilizer for several years. Finally retiring in the early 2000s. His later years were spent vacationing and visiting his girls and grandchildren, visiting Washington, Nevada, Arkansas, Florida, and California. He loved these trips and all the trips to Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, South Dakota, Savannah, New Orleans and the Pacific Coast. Richard was a loving, humble, nice, generous, and just darn good man.

Richard is preceded in death by his daughter Marla, parents Louis and Imogene, brother Tommy and nephew Preston Neal. He is survived by wife Dona of the home, children Christine (Troy) Sniff of Eaton, Andrea Baxter Vivo of Springfield. Brothers Dwayne (Diana), Lynn (Darlene) and Steve (Marilyn). Grandchildren Nicole (Brock) Stout of Pueblo, Quaid (Heather) Sniff of Debary, FL, Kolby Sniff of Portland, OR, Steven Vivo of California, and Lauren Vivo of Springfield. Great-grandchildren Otto and Victor Sniff of Debary, FL. and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

The family would appreciate memorial donations be made to either the American Heart Association, www.heart.org or the Southeast Colorado Long Term Care Center, 373 E. 10 ^th Ave. Springfield, CO, 81073.